LING 580 A: Problems in Linguistics

INSTRUCTED SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

LING 580 A, B / SPAN 542 A

Fall 2026, W 2:30-5:20

Ana Fernández Dobao

Email: anadobao@uw.edu

Office hours: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this graduate seminar, we will examine current research on Instructed Second Language Acquisition (ISLA), a subfield of SLA that investigates how additional languages are learned through formal instruction. The course focuses on research exploring the relationship between instruction, learner processes, and language development, with the final goal of improving the effectiveness of second language (L2) teaching. We will address issues directly related to the L2 classroom, such as: Do students benefit from the corrective feedback they receive? Why is interaction important in the L2 classroom? How does peer scaffolding function during collaborative tasks? What is the Zone of Proximal Development, and how does it help explain the relationship between assistance and L2 development? How might learners’ first language (L1) mediate their L2 learning? Can L2 and heritage language (HL) learners benefit from working together, and in what ways?

This course is intended for graduate students interested in SLA research as well as those pursuing careers in second, foreign, and/or heritage language teaching.

The language of instruction will be English.

CALENDAR

* Course readings are tentative; they may change before the quarter starts. All course readings will be available in Canvas.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Class participation:                                20%

Discussion questions:                            20%

Research project:                                 

• Proposal 10%
• Oral presentation 30%
• Written paper 20%

SPAN 580 B (2 cr.): class participation and discussion questions

SPAN 580 A (4 cr.): class participation, discussion questions, and research project proposal and oral presentation

SPAN 542 A (5 cr.): class participation, discussion questions, and research project proposal, oral presentation, and written paper

CLASS PARTICIPATION

Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions, demonstrate their understanding of the readings, and share with the rest of the class their own ideas on the topics under discussion. To prepare for the class, students will complete the assigned readings and reflect on the “discussion questions”, which will be available via Canvas 24 hours before the class.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

For each class, students will prepare three questions for discussion on specific sections of the readings, as assigned by the professor. Students will post their questions on Canvas at least 24 hours before class. During the class, each student will be responsible for leading the discussion around their two questions.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Students enrolled in LING 580A or SPAN 542A will complete a research project in the field of ISLA. The project may be related to your PhD dissertation or MA thesis and help advance that research, but it must be new, original work in the ISLA field. The project will involve:

• The research proposal (LING 580A & SPAN 542A): a plan (1 page maximum), a bibliography (a minimum of 5 references), and an oral presentation in class (5-10 min. + Q&A). Wednesday, November 4. 10% of the final course grade.
• The oral presentation (LING 580A & SPAN 542A): a PowerPoint and oral presentation in class (15-20 min. + Q&A). Last day of class, Wednesday, December 9. 30% of the final course grade.
• The final paper (SPAN 542A): 3,000 words, plus appendixes, references, tables, and/or figures). To be submitted by the first Monday of finals week, Monday, December 14. 20% of the final course grade.

STUDENT CONDUCT AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

As a student of the University of Washington you are expected to practice high standards of academic and professional honesty and integrity, to be informed of the Student Conduct Code, and to follow it.

To learn about the Student Conduct Code, related policies, student conduct process, and other related information please visit:

http://www.washington.edu/cssc/expectations/

http://www.washington.edu/cssc/for-students/academic-misconduct/

Students who engage in academic misconduct as described in the Student Conduct Code (cheating, falsification, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, multiple submissions, etc.) will be reported to the Director of Community Standards & Student Conduct.

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

Religious accommodations

Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW's policy including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodation Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/ ). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form.

https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/

DRS Students

Students with either permanent or temporary disabilities should contact the DRS office: 011 Mary Gates, Box 352808, (206) 543-8924, uwdrs@uw.edu

Information about disability resources for students may be found at http://depts.washington.edu/uwdrs/

Safe Campus

Call SafeCampus at 206-685-7233 anytime -no matter where you work or study - to anonymously discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others. SafeCampus’s team of caring professionals will provide individualized support, while discussing short- and long-term solutions and connecting you with additional resources when requested.

For more information visit https://www.washington.edu/safecampus/

REFERENCES

Coming soon!!!